A man just had the ride of his life, driving across continents from London to Thane, covering a massive 18,300 kilometers and 16 countries. For nearly two months, road travel was all he did to reach his destination. Here’s the incredible journey of Virajit Mungale.
A British national with roots in Raunak Park, Thane, completed an incredible 18,300 km road trip from London to Thane, traversing 16 countries in 59 days.
Meet Virajit Mungale, whose journey was nothing short of exordinary.
Instead of flying to Thane to visit his mother, Mungale decided to take the adventurous route by driving all the way.
His journey took him through the UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, Tibet, Nepal, and finally, India.
The first leg of the trip saw Mungale accompanied by Roshan Shresta, a Nepali friend, up to Kathmandu. From Kathmandu onwards, his wife and a relative joined him for the remainder of the journey.
Each leg was meticulously planned to manage fatigue and ensure safety, covering an average of 400-600 km a day, and sometimes up to 1,000 km depending on the conditions.
"I had planned this after reading about the historic Silk Route and later, a couple who had done it. When my emails to them went unanswered, I decided to plan it myself," he said, speaking to TOI.
"When I shared this plan with my wife, she thought I was joking, but later, she supported it, and that’s how the entire trip was planned. Though it was originally scheduled before the pandemic, it got postponed until now."
Ensuring safety, Mungale avoided late-night driving.
The journey was mostly smooth, with no major weather challenges, despite summer conditions and high altitudes reaching 5,200 meters.
"We faced minor altitude sickness, snow, and extreme cold, but we were well prepared for that as well," he shared.
Food posed no problems either.
"Apart from beef and insects, I eat everything. We would take a break after 3-4 pm and start searching for hotels or places to stay overnight," Mungale revealed.
This remarkable journey highlights not just the physical challenge, but the thrill of exploration and the spirit of adventure that drives individuals like Virajit Mungale.
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